Chapter 89

The water shuts off slowly, steam still clinging to the glass as they step out together.

Rowan grabs two towels from the warming rack, handing one to Naomi before wrapping the other low around her hips. Naomi dries her hair roughly, laughing under her breath, cheeks still flushed — not just from the heat.

They don’t rush.

There’s something unspoken in the air now — softer, steadier.

When they step into Naomi’s bedroom, the cool air hits their damp skin. Sunlight spills across the bed in wide golden bands, the sheets slightly rumpled from earlier.

Rowan watches Naomi for a second.

The way her shoulders relax.
The way she exhales like she’s lighter.

Then, without warning, Rowan reaches out and gives her a playful shove.

Naomi stumbles back onto the mattress with a surprised laugh, bouncing slightly against the pillows. “Oh — so this is how we’re starting the morning?”

Rowan climbs onto the bed slowly, bracing her hands on either side of Naomi’s shoulders. The mattress dips under her weight. Their towels are still wrapped, but barely holding on.

“It’s the first time we’re on your bed,” Rowan says softly, her voice playful but edged with something deeper. “Feels like it deserves a proper entrance.”

Naomi’s eyes darken in that familiar way. “You’re bold in the mornings.”

Rowan leans down, brushing her nose against Naomi’s. “Only when I feel safe.”

That lands.

Naomi’s teasing expression softens instantly. Her hands slide up Rowan’s back, fingertips tracing slow lines over warm skin. “You are safe,” she says quietly.

The kiss that follows isn’t rushed.

It’s slow. Curious. Exploring.

Rowan presses Naomi gently into the mattress, deepening it just enough to make Naomi’s breath hitch. Naomi’s laugh melts into a sigh as her hands tighten at Rowan’s waist.

The bed creaks faintly beneath them.

Rowan pulls back just enough to look at her. “You like being pushed around a little?”

Naomi smirks. “Only by you.”

Rowan lingers just above her, lips barely brushing Naomi’s again, teasing.

Naomi’s hands slide from Rowan’s waist down to her hips, gripping just enough to shift the balance between them.

She smirks up at her, eyes dark and steady.

“Rowan,” she says low, voice controlled but unmistakably charged, “I suggest you get off of me… or I’m going to turn you every way but loose.”

Rowan pauses, eyebrow lifting.

Naomi’s grip tightens slightly as she continues, slow and deliberate. “And everyone in this house will hear you screaming my name.”

The air shifts.

Rowan lets out a soft, breathy laugh, but it catches halfway — because she can see it in Naomi’s eyes. She means it.

“Oh?” Rowan murmurs, leaning closer, her mouth brushing Naomi’s jaw. “That a threat or a promise?”

Naomi doesn’t answer with words.

In one smooth motion, she rolls them, reversing their positions so Rowan’s back hits the mattress instead. The bed dips again, sheets tangling around their legs.

Rowan’s hands slide up Naomi’s arms, steadying herself, smiling wide. “Okay,” she breathes. “I see what you did there.”

Naomi hovers over her now, hair falling forward slightly, eyes locked in. “You started it.”

Rowan grins, unbothered. “I’m not complaining.”

Rowan’s fingers curl into the sheets as Naomi deepens the kiss, slow and consuming, but not rushed. There’s heat there — yes — but there’s also something steadier now. Controlled. Intentional.

Naomi pulls back just enough to look at her.

For a second, it’s not teasing.

It’s intense.

“You have no idea,” Naomi murmurs, brushing her thumb along Rowan’s lower lip, “how hard it is for me not to completely lose my mind right now.”

Rowan’s breath hitches — not because of what Naomi’s implying, but because of how she’s saying it. Confident. Certain. Devastatingly calm.

“I’m not scared,” Rowan whispers back.

Naomi smirks slightly. “You should be.”

But instead of escalating, she lowers her forehead to Rowan’s chest and exhales, a laugh rumbling softly from her throat.

“Okay,” she mutters. “If we keep going, Simone and Lila are going to start placing bets in the kitchen.”

Rowan laughs, fingers slipping into Naomi’s hair. “You’re the one threatening to make the whole house hear me.”

Naomi lifts her head again, eyes playful. “I was being generous. I like giving people something to talk about.”

Rowan rolls her eyes affectionately, then tugs Naomi down into another kiss — slower this time. Less fire. More warmth.

Their towels are barely hanging on, skin still damp from the shower, but the mood shifts into something softer. Intimate in a different way.

Rowan runs her fingers lightly down Naomi’s spine. “We should probably get dressed before we give Celeste a heart attack.”

Naomi sighs dramatically. “You’re ruining my villain era.”

Rowan laughs and nudges her. “Get up.”

Naomi groans but rolls off her, flopping onto her back beside her instead. They lay there for a second, staring up at the ceiling, breathing in sync.

Rowan turns her head. “You okay?”

Naomi turns too. “Yeah.”

And this time she means it.

After a beat, Naomi reaches over, squeezes Rowan’s hand, and says quietly, “You make it really easy to feel wanted.”

Rowan’s expression softens. “You are.”

A knock echoes faintly down the hallway — distant, probably Lila calling out about coffee.

Naomi smirks. “Saved by the bell.”

Rowan laughs. “Come on. Let’s face the day.”

Naomi is still sitting on the edge of the bed when the door opens without a knock.

Celeste pauses just inside the room.

Her eyes move slowly from Rowan… to Naomi… to the slightly disheveled sheets… to the damp towels barely clinging to their hips.

A slow smile spreads across her face.

“Well,” she says casually, crossing her arms. “Looks like you two had a time.”

Rowan laughs first, running a hand through her still-wet hair. “Good morning to you too.”

Naomi tilts her head, completely unbothered. “We were being productive.”

Celeste raises a brow. “Oh, I’m sure you were.”

Naomi grins.

Celeste steps further into the room, gaze lingering just long enough to make it clear she’s not mad — just amused. Maybe a little impressed.

“I was actually coming for you,” she says, looking at Rowan now. “Director called. He needs us to come in. Apparently he wants to finish up those last scenes while we still have momentum.”

Rowan groans dramatically. “Today?”

“Today,” Celeste confirms. “In, like… an hour.”

Naomi’s eyes widen. “An hour? That’s disrespectful.”

Celeste laughs. “Tell him that.”

Rowan sighs, dragging her hands down her face before standing up. “Okay. Fine. I’ll get dressed.”

Naomi reaches out and grabs Rowan’s wrist lightly before she can walk away. “Wait.”

Rowan looks down at her.

Naomi’s expression softens just a little. “Text me when you get there. And eat something. Don’t just survive on coffee.”

Rowan smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”

Celeste watches the exchange, something warm flickering across her face.

Naomi looks up at her next. “And you.”

Celeste steps closer. “Me?”

“You better come back tonight.”

Celeste leans down and presses a quick kiss to Naomi’s forehead. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Naomi exhales like she needed to hear that, then smirks slightly.

“And don’t be surprised if I pop up and surprise you two,” she adds, folding her arms with playful confidence. “You never know.”

Rowan laughs. “Oh? You planning to crash set?”

Naomi shrugs casually. “Maybe. Maybe not. I work from anywhere. And I like to keep things interesting.”

Celeste shakes her head, amused. “You are dangerous when you’re bored.”

Naomi grins. “Good. Stay on your toes.”

Rowan steps back toward the closet, already pulling on clothes. “Now I have to behave all day knowing you might randomly appear.”

Naomi tilts her head. “That sounds like a you problem.”

Celeste chuckles and heads toward the door. “Alright. We’ll survive.”

Naomi leans back on her hands, sunlight catching her smile. “Barely.”

Rowan disappears to finish getting ready, and Celeste lingers just long enough to meet Naomi’s eyes one more time.

“You good?” Celeste asks softly.

Naomi nods. “Yeah. I am.”

Celeste smiles, satisfied. “Good. Because tonight,” she says lightly, “I’m getting my turn.”

Naomi’s lips curve slowly. “I’ll be waiting.”

Celeste laughs and finally steps out, leaving the room filled with soft morning light and the quiet hum of anticipation.

Naomi lies back on the bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling.